BJP flays PM for 'soft' approach on terrorism

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday flayed the Congress-led government for its "soft" approach towards terrorism and urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to formulate an "adequate policy to deal with the menace."

Addressing a press conference on the first day of a three-day party national executive meet in Lucknow, BJP spokesperson Arun Jaitley said: "Now that even UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was stated to have received terrorist threats, it was time that the prime minister changed his stand against terror" and took a tough line on the issue.

He said his party had no covert understanding with the Samajwadi Party and talks of a "deal" with the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led government in Uttar Pradesh were "baseless".

Regarding construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, Jaitley said: "The temple has never been on our political agenda, but it is a national issue."

Earlier, according to BJP sources, the executive discussed the party's preparedness for the forthcoming assembly elections in four states including Uttar Pradesh.

The other states where elections are due in early 2007 are Punjab, Uttaranchal and Manipur.

The sources said BJP president Rajnath Singh was critical of UPA's management of economy, which had resulted in increasing number of suicides in the country.

"We are not against creation of special economic zones but these should be created on barren wasteland and not by usurping rich agricultural land from farmers," they quoted him as telling party leaders.

Singh also criticised the government for its handling of the foreign policy and the failure to control spread of terrorism in the country.

Criticising the Mulayam Singh for having brought "anarchy" in the state, he said: "UP has turned into a hotbed of crime and corruption."